Police investigating an attack which left a teenage boy with two black eyes, have appealed for witnesses to come forward.

The 18-year-old from Southend was on a night out at Chameleon club in Lucy Road in the town when the attack happened.

He was approached by a man who punched him twice in the face causing him to fall to the floor. Whilst he was on the floor his attacker then kicked him in the face. The teenager suffered two black eyes and a bloody nose.

Police investigating the attack have been carrying out various enquiries, including examining CCTV footage.

They would now like to hear from anyone who witnessed the attack.

This was a nasty attack and we would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed it and can help us catch the perpetrator.

The suspect is described as a white man, aged around 25, had short black hair and wore blue jeans and a white t-shirt.

A new maritime festival is to be held in Southend in June for the first time.

The weekend of free activities will be aimed at families and well celebrate the town's maritime history.

It's being organised by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and is being funded with money from the Coastal Communities Fund.

It comes after the council made a bid for the cash in 2013 to improve the seafront economy and profile of the history of the town.

"I am delighted that we have secured external funding to run this event and I am looking forward to being involved and part of it. We have a Film Festival, Folk Festival, and a Jazz Festival so I am very pleased that this year we will also have a Maritime Festival that will explore our important relationship with the water and our wonderful seafront. This will be a wonderful event for all the family with a host of activities that will boost the seafront economy and be a great weekend for residents, businesses and visitors alike. I hope that it is well supported and could lead to it becoming a fixture in the Southend-on-Sea events calendar."

Three men have been arrested following a brawl outside a pub in Southend which left a man with serious head injuries.

Location of fight in Southend Credit: ITV News Anglia

Officers were called to East Street at around 7.20pm last night following reports of a group of 15 football supporters fighting in the street near the Railway pub.

A man, believed to be in his 40s and from Suffolk, was found on the floor suffering from serious head injuries. He has been taken to the Royal London Hospital for treatment.

Police contained the disturbance using CS gas. Two men were arrested at the scene. A 33-year-old man from Southend was arrested on suspicion of GBH and a 47-year-old man from Cambridge was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. The door of the pub had been smashed. They are being questioned at Southend Police Station.

Officers made a further arrest at 8.45pm in East Street following enquiries. A 23-year-old man from Westcliff was arrested on suspicion of GBH. He is currently at Basildon Police Station.

East Street has been closed at St Benets Avenue whilst forensic investigations take place.

A man has been jailed for 8-years after admitting child abduction and attempted rape.

23-year-old Steven Partridge of no fixed abode was sentenced at Basildon Crown Court following an incident in Southend in November 2014, involving a 9-year-old girl.

Partridge was given an additional 3-years on licence.

""He put a young girl through a very traumatic experience and I am pleased this man has been taken off the streets so that she can now move forward, and the community will be protected from him for a considerable amount of time. I would like to pay tribute to the way the victim and her family have bravely coped in very distressing circumstances, with dignity and composure.”